Feb. 19, 2018
Vanderbilt Baseball Weekly Report
Overall Record: 2-1
Streak: Win 1
Last Week’s Results (2-1)
Friday, February 16 vs. No. 25 Duke – Win 9-1
Saturday, February 17 vs. No. 25 Duke – Loss 5-4
Sunday, February 18 vs. No. 25 Duke – Win 9-1
This Week (Times Central)
Tuesday, February 20 vs. Presbyterian – 4 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Wednesday, February 21 vs. Presbyterian – 4 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Friday, February 23 vs. UMass-Lowell – 4 p.m. [SEC Network+]
Saturday, February 24 vs. UMass-Lowell – 12 p.m.
Sunday, February 25 vs. UMass-Lowell – 12 p.m.
Player of the Week Nominee
Stephen Scott, C, 5-11, 200, Cary, N.C.
Weekly totals: 3G/2GS, 12 AB, 5 R, 6 H, 2-2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Led Vanderbilt with 11 total bases and a .917 slugging percentage while matching Pat DeMarco for the team lead with five runs scored. Earned the start on Opening Day, finishing 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Paced the way for Vanderbilt at designated hitter on Saturday, finishing 3-for-4 while scoring three of the Dores’ four runs. Belted his third career home run and added a pair of doubles. Reached base twice in Sunday’s finale, finishing 1-for-4 including providing an RBI-single as part of Vanderbilt’s five-run sixth inning.
Pitcher of the Week Nominee
Mason Hickman, RHP, 6-6, 230, Hendersonville, Tenn.
Weekly totals: 1G/0GS, W, 5.0IP, 3H, 0R/0ER, 2BB, 7K
Earned the victory in his first collegiate appearance, tossing five scoreless innings against No. 25 Duke. Scattered three hits – all singles – while striking out seven and limiting the Blue Devils to a .188 batting average.
Freshman of the Week Nominee
Pat DeMarco, CF, 5-11, 205, Staten Island, N.Y.
Weekly totals: 3G/3GS, 13 AB, 5 R, 8 H, 1-2B, 1 RBI, 1 SB
Led Vanderbilt to a series victory against No. 25 Duke, finishing a team-best 8-of-13 (.615) at the plate and starting all three games in the outfield. Recorded multi-hit performances in all three games including batting leadoff in the season opener, finishing 3-for-4 while reaching base four times in the win. Went 2-for-5 at the plate during Saturday’s middle game and tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning with an RBI-single into right field. Finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs while reaching base four times in Vanderbilt’s series-clinching victory on Sunday.
Commodore Notes
No. 14 Vanderbilt opened the 2018 season by taking two-of-three against No. 25 Duke in the first non-conference top-25 matchup at Hawkins Field since 2011 The Commodores produced the most hits on Opening Day since 2004, cranking out 15 as part of a 9-1 victory Six of the 15 hits came from true freshmen including Pat DeMarco, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, and Philip Clarke, who finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs Vandy batted around in the fifth and took the lead on an Ethan Paul two-RBI single Jackson Gillis earned the win in relief, tossing 3.2 innings while fanning four and permitting just one hit The Dores fell in the middle game, 5-4 as Pat DeMarco was cut down at the plate attempting to score the tying run in the bottom of the ninth our in the seventh thanks to a Stephen Scott solo home run and Connor Kaiser RBI-double Duke answered in the eighth, retaking the lead behind three hits off reliever Patrick Raby Vanderbilt returned to form in the finale, thumping the Blue Devils, 9-1, backed by a five-run sixth inning The Dores collected 13 hits from eight different players and sent all nine hitters to the plate in the sixth Vandy reliever Mason Hickman was lights out in relief, tossing the final five scoreless frames while permitting just three hits and striking out seven Austin Martin set the tone from the get-go, belting the third pitch of the game over the Monster in left field for a leadoff home run The Dores pitching staff limited Duke to a .194 batting average during the three games while posting a 2.33 ERA. The Vandy offense hit at a .339 clip including an 8-for-13 performance from freshman Pat DeMarco, who also added five runs Philip Clarke contributed a team-leading six RBIs and four runs while Paul collected five RBIs and scored three times The Commodores continue their 10-game season-opening homestand this week, welcoming Presbyterian on Tuesday and Wednesday then taking on UMass-Lowell in a three-game weekend series.
